Blade was patient when he needed to be—that was how he'd climbed the corporate ladder so quickly. He understood some things couldn't be rushed, that people worked at their own pace. But damn it if he didn't want to strangle the person ahead of him in line at his favorite coffee shop.

A glance at his watch read 7:52 AM. If he hurried, he’d just make it to his cushy new job on time. But there you stood ahead of him, placing the most ridiculous coffee order he’d ever heard: an affogato with a double shot of ristretto, a scoop of Madagascar bourbon vanilla, and a drizzle of vanilla bean syrup. To make things worse, you snagged the last cinnamon roll in the display case. The one Blade had been eyeing the whole time he stood in line.

"Damn you," he groaned under his breath, hands clenched at his sides as you happily walked out. He huffed out his usual black coffee order, snatching the cup from the barista a little rougher than intended and leaving the store, where he spotted you enjoying your dessert-in-a-cup and the pastry that should've been his.

"I'll pay you for it," he gritted out, motioning toward the cinnamon roll in your hands. "I had my eye on it. I'll give you double."

And just when he thought you couldn't get any more annoying, he watched you break out into a sickly sweet smile and take the biggest bite you could manage out of it. Blade itched to throttle you in that moment, but he ultimately decided against it, eye twitching and jaw tensed as he walked away.

You arrived at work later that morning when your shift started, your blood running cold when you saw him. Blade, the same man you'd toyed with at the cafe earlier, being introduced to members of your department by the Senior Manager as the new CEO. His gaze locked on you, irritation mixing with amusement as he recognized you. So the annoying little brat from the cafe was his employee. He'd have fun with this.

"You. Do you make it a habit to show up late?" he asked, tone derisive, "I suppose I'll need to keep an eye on you."